Magnetic hinge



June 18, 1968 A. K. 559 3,388,418

MAGNETIC HINGE Filed July 27, 1965 INVENT OR AHMET K. 85 Y United States Patent 3,388,418 MAGNETIC HINGE Ahmet K. Bey, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Monarch Tool & Machinery Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of filinois Filed July 27, 1965, Ser. No. 475,147 6 Claims. ((31. 16-139) ABSTRACT 9F THE DISCLOSURE Pivotally connected first and second hinge members respectively carry first and second magnets in sliding engagement with each other so that first and second parts to which said hinge members are secured can be Ina-gnetically held at all angular aspects.

The instant invention relates to hinges. Particularly, the invention relates to a magnetic hinge.

Cabinets and other housings such as chests, which are adapted for several uses, each may have a top closure member defined by a rectangular lid or cover which is rockable about an axis adjacent one side of said closure member to open and close the horizontal upper access opening of the cabinet in connection with which such closure member is employed. Frequently, there is a requirement that a cabinet of the defined class be adapted for maintaining of its upper access opening in only partially closed condition. That is to say, to satisfy various requirements there exist needs in cabinets of the class defined for means for conditioning their closures to partially closed or partially open position against the action of gravity at selected angles between ninety degrees from the horizontal and completely closed position.

For example, top opening cabinets or other housings generally employed for turntables adapted for rotation of record discs for reproduction of sound having indicia recorded in disc grooves, are preferred with self holding lid or cover means which are operative at all angles ranging between fully open or vertical lid or cover position and full closed or horizontal lid or cover position.

Although several prior known mechanical devices have been employed to serve the preference, such prior constructions do not completely fulfill the requirement for automatic holding of vertical closure members at all angles of closing. For example, one prior device, while functioning elficiently over a range between about 45 and 90 degrees from the horizontal is incapable of bolding its closure member against the force of gravity and drops such member when the same is released at any angle verging downwardly to the horizontal from about 45 degrees.

In accordance with the present invention and as an object thereof there is provided improved means for automatically holding a vertical closure member for a horizontal or upper opening in selected partially closed position at angles ranging upwardly from the horizontal.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved hinge construction for a closure member vertically rockable to a horizontal position about a horizontal axis to close a cabinet or casing having an upper or horizontal opening.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved hinge construction for a vertically movable closure member and the like.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a magnetic hinge construction.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide in a magnetic hinge construction means whereby a closure rockable about the axis provided by such hinge construction can be selfheld at any selected angle about 3,388,418 Patented June 18, 1968 said axis of rotation against any force less than the magnetic holding force in the hinge construction.

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon consideration of the following description and appended claims, when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein the same reference character or numeral refers to like or corresponding parts throughout the several views.

On the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the instant invention showing the same mounted with respect to a cabinet-like structure, said structure being shown by dotted lines.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of said embodiment illustrating in perspective the several components thereof and their relationships to one another.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, in FIG. 1 there is disclosed in dotted lines a cabinet-like structure such as a chest or case or the like generally designated 10 and which may be adapted for varying uses that will readily be appreciated. One such use for which structure 10 may be employed is as a housing for a turntable adapted to rotatably support record discs for reproduction of sounds from indicia recorded in grooves on such discs by means of a conventional tone-arm, all of which are not shown inasmuch as the details of construction thereof are not critical to the present invention. As illustrated, the structure 10 may be defined by a pair of opposite parallel side walls 11 and 12, an integral back wall of panel 13, which is parallel to an integral front wall 14, a floor 15 and base support means herein characterized by a pair of leg members 16, 16 having conventional threaded adjusting members 17, 17 the details of construction of which will be appreciated by those knowledgeable in the art.

Structure 10 has an upper substantially horizontal access opening 18 which may be of rectangular outline and defined by the upper end of the walls 11, 12, 13 and 14. A closure member 19, which may be variously referred to as a lid or cover and which may be of rectangular outline and have substantially the same dimensions as the opening 18, is adapted to close and uncover said opening 18, the closure member 19, when closed, being disposed in or adjacent the plane of opening 18. Closure member 19 is rockable about a substantially horizontal axis which is disposed adjacent one of its sides 20 as will be apparent hereinafter. Therefore, when said closure member is disposed in open position at an angle to the horizontal other than vertical, the force of gravity will tend to draw it downwardly in the direction of arrow 21 to engage its opposite side 22 in a seat 23 which may be defined by the upper edge of the front wall 14 of structure 10, as illustrated in FIG. 1. The movement of the closure member 19 is governed by a hinge construction generally designated as 24 which embodies the present invention and the details of construction of which are clearly seen in FIG. 2.

Referring now particularly to the hinge construction 24, it is seen that the same comprises a first or trough-like hinge member or casing 25 being a channel which is defined by a rectangular part, channel base or plate 26 from the opposite ends 27 and 28 of which normally extend in a common direction, which may be considered forward, a pair of trough sides 29 and 30 which together with the part 26 define a channel 31. Integral with the sides 29 and 30 are a pair of bosses 32 and 33 which extend in opposite directions normally from the cabinet proximate ends 34 and 35 of said sides 29 and 30, respectively. As illustrated in FIG. 1, said bosses 32 and 33 are adapted for disposition laterally of the trough-like member 25 when it is mounted in a position in which fasteners 3 such as screws 36 or the like connect said trough-like member to the outer surface of what may be considered a first part or the rear wall 13 of structure I Thereby, the rectangular part or plate 26 is spaced outwardly from said rear wall and said bosses and screws comprise means for securing said first hinge member to first part 13.

A permanent magnetic construction generally designated 37 is disposed within the channel 31. Said magnetic construction comprises a permanent magnet 38 which may be an elongated rectangular solid of the wattle type, and is polarized transversally of its longitudinal axis in a manner such that the opposite South and North poles which are identified respectively by S and N in the drawings are laterally disposed with respect to each other when considered in terms of orientation relative to structure 10. The permanent magnet 38, accordingly, presents two spaced apart oppositely polarized lateral polar faces to which are secured, by means of suitable adhesive, cement or the like, a pair of pole ieces or pole plates 39 and 40 which are disposed within the channel 31. The pole plates 39 and 46 are fabricated of magnetizable material such as soft iron or the like to enhance the magnetic energy of magnet 38 in a manner that is readily appreciated in the art. As illustrated in FIG. 2, said pole plates may be rectangular in configuration with each having opposite and overhanging edge portions 41 and 42 which respectively extend outwardly toward and away from plate 26 beyond the permanent magnet 38.

The overhanging portions 41 of the pole plates 39 and 40 have a pair of aligned apertures 43, 43 in their normally lower end sections which are shown as being horizontally aligned with each other and with a pair of aligned apertures 44, 44 defined in the lower sections of side walls 29 and 31). A pin 45 which may be, but preferably is not, of magnetic fabrication is adapted for extension through aligned apertures 43, 43 and 44, 44 and defines an axis about which the magnetic construction 37 is rockable when in mounted position, as illustrated in FIG. 1.

A second hinge member, being a cap or plate 46 which like the casing 25 may be, but preferably is not, of magnetic fabrication has a pair of opposite side fianges 47 and 48 which are shown as depending and which are disposed in the channel 31 between the side walls 29 and 30 above the magnetic construction 37. The flanges 47 and 48 have a pair of aligned apertures 49, 49 which are illustrated as disposed in horizontal alignment with each other and with a pair of apertures 50, 50 which are aligned with each other and defined in the upper end sections of the sides 29 and 30. A pin 51 which may be of nonmagnetic fabrication is engaged in the apertures 49, 49 and 50,50 and defines an axis of rotation for the closure 19 by reason of means which will become apparent presently. The plate 46, which is substantially of rectangular configuration, by reason of the foregoing construction, is rockable in the upper portion of channel 31 about the axis provided by the pin 51.

Integral with the forward end of plate and comprise means for connecting second hinge member or plate 46 to second part 19 are a pair of laterally spaced apart bosses 52 and 53 which extend upwardly normally from said plate 46. The bosses 52 and 53 are disposed in a spaced relationship from the rear edge 54 of the plate 46 at a distance which is substantially equal to the distance between ends 23 and 35, being the same as the distance between ends 27 and 34. The distance of the spacing of the bosses 52 and 53 from the edge 54 is not critical to the invention but will be governed by the distance of rear edge 54 with respect to plate 26 and by the spacing of the anchored side 20 of the closure member or second part 19 from the wall or first part 13 be cause the bosses 52 and 53 are rigidly secured to said anchored side 20 by suitable fastening means such as screws 55. Accordingly, in the event that the side 21) of closure 19 is substantially in the same plane as the side 13 when said closure is in horizontal position, the flanges 52 and 53 will be disposed in substantially the same plane as the flanges 32 and 33.

The plate 46 has an integral tongue or boss 57 which in the instant embodiment is in the plane of said plate 46, said tongue being projected outwardly from between the bosses 52 and 53 for engagement with the under surface (not shown) of the closure member 19 to which said tongue is suitably secured by fasteners (not shown) such as a screw or the like which is projected through an aperture 58 into the fabric of said closure member 19. By reason of the foregoing construction, it is apparent that the closure member 19 is rockable about an axis defined by pin 51 to govern or control the condition of the access opening 18.

A flat work piece 59 which may be substantially rectangular in configuration has a fiat surface defining a pair of opposite side portions 6% and 61 which engage the elongated fiat exposed surfaces 70 and 71 of overhanging edge portions 42, 42 of the pole plates 39 and 40. The work piece 59 is of magnetizable construction being fabricated from soft iron or the like, whereby the work piece 59 is magnetically attracted to and held by the pole plates 39 and 4t Inasmuch as the surfaces '70 and 71 of the overhanging edge portions 42 of the pole plates as well as the side portions 60 and 61 of the work piece 59 are fiat, upon application of force to the magnetic connection sufficient to overcome the magnetic force of attraction between the magnetic construction 37 and the work piece 59, said work piece will be slid longitudinally of said magnetic construction, that is, substantially vertically. An upper laterally reduced end portion 62 of said work piece 59 extends upwardly beyond the magnetic construction 37 and is disposed between flanges 47 and 48 of the cover plate 46. The reduced portion 62 has a bore 63 which is shown as extending horizontally laterally through said upper end portion 62. The bore 63 is in alignment with a pair of aligned apertures 64, 64 defined in the flanges 47 and 48 respectively. A pin 65 engages in the apertures 64, 64 and the bore 63 defines an axis about which the upper end portion 62 of the work piece 59 can rock slightly, the necessity for which is apparent when it is considered that the apertures 64, 64 are disposed forwardly from the apertures 49, 4-9 in which the pin 51 defines the axis of rotation for the closure member 19.

By reason of the foregoing construction, when the closure member 19 is rocked, for example, from a closed or horizontal position to the position illustrated in FIG. 1, the plate 46 will rotate about the axis defined by pin 51 to an inclination which is equal to the angle formed by the inner fiat of the closure member 19 with the horizontal. Such opening motion will cause the pin 65 to be rotated or rocked counterclockwise with respect to FIG. 2 about the axis of the pin 51 thereby causing the work piece to rock slightly and simultaneously slide upwardly while being retained against the pole plates 39 and 49. The work piece 59, because of its off-center disposition, will rock during opening and closing movement about the axis of pin 51 as said work piece slides upwardly and downwardly. The rocking movement of the work piece 59 will cause it to rock about pin 65 and move inwardly and outwardly relative to the channel 31. Such inward and outward movement of the work piece 59 is accommodated by the magnetic construction 37 which itself will rock about the axis defined by pin 45 whereby unstrained continuous magnetic engagement of the work piece 59 and the magnetic construction 37 is insured during all movement at all positions of closure member 19. Because of the foregoing construction, the closure member 19 will be magnetically held open at all angular dispositions ranging upwardly from the horizontal provided that sufiicient energy is developed by the magnetic construction 37 to hold the Work piece 59 against the downward pull of gravity. It is appreciated that magnetic holding force considered as adequate will vary in accordance with the weight and the dimensions of closure member 19. It is also appreciated that the axis pins 45, 51 and 65 are disposed substantially parallel to each other and that means (not shown) are provided for retention of said pins from displacement axially thereof when disposed or mounted in the assembled hinged construction 24.

As many substitutions or changes could be made in the above described construction, and as many apparently widely diiferent embodiments of the invention within the scope of the claims could be constructed without departing from the scope and spirit thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as being illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. A hinge construction comprising a first hinge member defining a channel having a channel base; a first magnetic member pivotally mounted in said channel and having portions spaced and extending outwardly from said channel base; a second hinge member having an end portion connected to said first hinge member for relatively pivoting said first and second hinge members, and a second flat magnetic member carried by said second hinge member and magnetically holdable in adjusted positions against said portions at each angular relationship of said first and second hinge members.

2. A hinge construction comprising a first hinge member defining a channel; a first magnetic member mounted in said channel and having outwardly directed parts of opposite polarity; a second hinge member having an end portion disposed adjacent said first magnetic member and pivotally connected to said first hinge member, and a second magnetic member connected to said second hinge member and sl-idably engaging said outwardly directed parts, said second magnetic member magnetically held by said first hinge member at selected positions thereon against a force less than that of the magnetic attraction, whereby said hinge members can be secured in selected angular relationship. 3. The hinge construction defined in claim 2 in which the first magnetic member is a permanent magnet, the outwardly extended parts being elongated and spaced apart from one another and the second magnetic member has a flat surface adapted for sliding longitudinally of said outwardly extended parts as said hinge members are relatively pivoted under a force greater than that of the magnetic attraction between said outwardly extended parts and said second magnetic member.

4. A hinge construction comprising a first hinge member having means for connection of said first hinge member to a first part; a second hinge member having an end portion pivotally connected to said first hinge member, said second hinge member having means for connection thereof to a second part relatively rotatable w th respect to a first part; an elongated permanent magnet having one end disposed adjacent said second hinge member and another end pivotally connected to said first hinge member, said permanent magnet having a pair of oppositely polarized slides; and a fiat magnetic member having an end portion pivotally connected to second hinge member and thereby slidable along said oppositely polarized slides, said fiat magnetic member magnetically attracted against said polarized slides in adjusted positions and slidable longitudinally thereof by a force greater than the force of magnetic attraction.

5. A hinge construction comprising a first hinge member having a channel and means for connection of said first hinge member to a first part; a second hinge member having an end portion pivotally connected to said first hinge member and disposed in said channel, said second hinge means having means for connection thereof to a second part relatively rotatable with respect to a first part; an elongated permanent magnet having one end disposed in said channel adjacent said second hinge member and another end pivotally connected to said first hinge member; a pair of oppositely polarized slides secured to said permanent magnet and projecting outwardly therefrom; a fiat magnetic member having an end portion pivotally connected to said second hinge member and magnetically held in said channel against said oppositely polarized slides in adjusted positions and slidable longitudinally thereof against a rocking force on said hinge members greater than the force of magnetic attraction between said slides and said fiat magnetic member.

6. A hinge construction a first hinge member; a first magnetic member pivotally connected to said first hinge member and having outwardly directed parts of opposite polarity; a second hinge member having an end portion disposed adjacent said first magnetic member and pivotally connected to said first hinge member, and a second magnetic member pivotally connected to said second hinge member and slidably engaging said outwardly directed parts and magnetically retained thereby at selected positions thereon against a force less than that of the magnetic attraction, whereby said hinge members can be secured in selected angular relationship.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,701,202 2/ 1929 Dudley 292251.5 2,607,961 8/1952 Allen 292-2515 3,016,563 1/1962. De Jong 292-251.5 3,152,716 10/1964 Feldhahn 16-147 2,963,167 12/1960 Norman 248206 A BOBEY R. GAY, Primary Examiner.

MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Examiner.

D. -L. TROUTMLAN, Assistant Examiner. 

